**The Faithful Hound of a Betrayer**
That autumn, drivers passing along the motorway spotted a dog standing motionless by the exit to a country village. Day after day, it remained in the same spot. At first, it stood. A week later, it sat. Then, weakened by hunger, it lay down, its eyes following every passing car.
Locals began stopping to feed the stray. From a distance, the mutt resembled a German Shepherdwere it not for its fluffy tail, curled playfully into a ring and resting on its back. It greeted the kind souls with wary friendliness, never letting them too close. Yet it ate ravenously, licking the bowl clean. It only left its post for necessitys sake.
A village boy, Thomas, took the dogs plight most to heart. Each day, he came to comfort the creaturea male, he noticedwhom he named “Loyal.” He reasoned that something mustve happened to the owner, urging the dog to come with him instead. With a tilted head, the poor thing listened skeptically but refused companionship.
Slowly, though, they became friends. Soon, they sat together by the roadside, watching the cars rush past.
Autumn faded, winter crept in with biting frost. At Thomass plea, his father built an insulated kennel by the lane, complete with a covered platform to shield the food from rain and snow. The dog liked its new shelter but always returned to the motorway once warmed.
Blizzards soon buried the road, the fields, even the kennel beneath drifts. After each snowfall, Thomas and his father cleared a path to the entrance. By then, the shelter was a snow cave, its tunnel leading back to the tarmac. And still, after eating, Loyal would trot to the empty road and stand there, gazing into the distance.
But all winters end. This one did too. The snow melted, the earth dried, birds sang, butterflies flitted. The motorway stirred to lifeweekenders returning to nature.
One day, Thomas arrived as usual. They played, even ran a little. Tired, they lounged on the wooden platform, basking in the sun.
Suddenly, the dog tensed. It bolted toward a dark car turning onto the lane.
The Honda screeched to a halt. A stocky bloke in his thirties leapt out, swearing, and raised a hand to strikebut the dog yelped, jumping to lick his face. Failing, it danced around him in delight, then planted its paws on the mans chest.
The man shoved it away, then gasped. “Bloody hell, Emilyits Hunter! Thought hed kicked the bucket ages ago. Tough little bugger!”
“Mister, is this your dog?” Thomas asked, hurrying over.
“Yeh, was mine. Paid for a Shepherd, got a mongrel with a corkscrew tail. If Id brought *that* home, my mates wouldve ripped me. So I left him when I drove off last autumn. He chased the car till here, then gave up.”
“Hes waited for you half a year. Never left.”
“Blimey. Didnt think dogs did that.” The man ruffled Loyals scruff as it whined, pawing at him. “But Ive got a proper Alsatian now, papers and all. Wanna see?” He dashed to the car, hauling out a lanky pup. “Look at these pawsgonna be huge! Proper beast!”
Loyal drooped. It slunk away, sat down, and stared at its owner with mournful eyes.
“Sorry, mate. Cant take two,” the man muttered, avoiding its gaze. “Youve managed fine without me. Wont miss me.”
He shoved the pup back inside, revved the engine, and sped off. The abandoned dog gave chasethen stopped, watching the taillights vanish. Head low, it trudged back toward the kennel.
Thomas followed, tears unchecked.
“Loyal, dont cry. Hes not worth it. Not all folk are traitorsjust your luck with him.” He hugged the dog, stroking its muzzle. “Dont fret. Youve got *me*. Were pals, yeah? Let me be your master. Ill never leave you. Come home with me?”
He stood, beckoning. The dog hesitated, trailing behind with uncertain pausesits eyes asking, *”You wont lie too?”*
“Come on. Itll be good, promise.”
At last, Loyal bounded after him. They entered the yard together. After showing it around and filling its bowl, Thomas sat with it on the porch.
The grateful hound licked his hands as he murmured, “Youre my good boy. The cleverest, handsomest. That blokes a fool. Youre not a mongreljust a breed hes never heard of. The best breed there is. Know what its called? *A faithful friend.*”
